Fisheries ministers have agreed that Europe should ban the controversial policy of discarding dead fish caught by accident under the EU quota system.
After 24 hours of negotiations, the EU Council agreed the procedure should be stopped.
Details of the end date are subject to more talks. The agreement must be passed by parliament and commission.
The ministers also agreed that regions of the EU should be given more control over fisheries policy.
Provisional dates agreed by ministers would see a ban on discards of mackerel and herring before 2014.
A phased ban on discards of cod, haddock, plaice and sole would be fully in operation before 2018 - it is more difficult for for fishing crews to avoid by-catch with these species which swim together.
It follows a long and influential campaign by, among others, the TV chef and broadcaster Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall.
But ministers, the European Parliament and the Commission still have to agree on how soon and how strictly fishermen in Europe should be limited to a scientifically sustainable catch.
'Wasteful practice'A UK government spokesman described the provisional deal as a massive step forward.
Continue reading the main story?Start Quote
End Quote Richard Benyon Fisheries MinisterI came...to achieve fundamental reform of the Common Fisheries Policy, to achieve healthy fish stocks, a prosperous fishing industry and a healthy marine environment?
UK Fisheries Minister Richard Benyon MP said: "It was always my aim to get the council to agree to end this wasteful practice as soon as possible.
"While I am disappointed that the council has not agreed the firm dates that I was seeking, a commitment to eliminating discards is a step in the right direction.
"I came to Luxembourg to achieve fundamental reform of the Common Fisheries Policy, to achieve healthy fish stocks, a prosperous fishing industry and a healthy marine environment."
He said there was more to be done but that the agreement was "an important step on the way to achieving that".
The UK is also celebrating agreement that regions should get more power over managing fisheries.
There have been many complaints about micro-management from Brussels.
As reform of the Common Fisheries Policy needs to be agreed by the parliament it is unlikely that any changes will be agreed before the end of this year.
What the EU Council has done in agreeing a "general approach" to reform is to send a clear signal on how it wants to proceed.
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